Marking the start of spring in Australia, Kingsford Spring Festival is held on Saturday (3/9/22) at Southern Cross Close.
This event was funded by Randwick City Council and had to experience a change in setting arrangement. Due to the weather, most activities and booths had to take place inside the IPC Randwick church, as the host of the event.
Also invited to attend this event were the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia and Vanuatu Dr Siswo Pramono and Ms. Marsia Gustiananda, the Indonesian Consul General in Sydney Mr. Vedi Kurnia Buana and Ms. Fanny Erlita, Mayor of Randwick Cr Dylan Parker, and Senior Constable Benjamin O'Reilly representing local police.
Some of the invitees in attendance at the Kingsford Spring Festival 2022 Credit: Adam Tedja
"This is a very important cultural event, presenting a piece of Indonesia to the people of Randwick," he told SBS Indonesian.
"More than that, it also shows how harmonious Indonesian people are here."
The event was supported by a Community Connect grant from the Randwick City Council.
Mayor Parker, who was being impressed by the performance of the Merak Ulin dance performed by Sisca Poeradiredja, said he was proud to be able to show the Indonesian community to everyone present.
"What is so special about this area Kingsford, as well as Maroubra and the surrounding suburbs is that we've not only got dinamic vibrant Indonesian community with fantastic food but we've got lots of students studying here, small businesses popping out," he told SBS Indonesian.
"And it has really given us quite a vibrant taste of Indonesia and a little downtown right here."
Stephen Soewono, the coordinator of the event, told SBS Indonesian that this event is expected to be a place of introduction between policy makers and residents of the multicultural Sydney's eastern suburb.
"This event is an outlet where we can meet and get to know ethnic groups in the eastern suburbs," said Mr Soewono.
"Introducing Randwick City Council Mayor and administrators to get to know the Indonesian community which is quite dense in the eastern suburb area".
Besides the peacock dance, this event was also enlivened by performance by the Nafirision IPC Randwick angklung group, face painting, bazaars selling Indonesian products and other foods.
Credit: Adam Tedja
Performance of IPC Randwick's Nafirision angklung group Credit: Adam Tedja
A stall seliing Indonesian products at Kingsford Spring Festival 2022 Credit: Adam Tedja
Also a stall for attendees to donate Credit: Adam Tedja
The event was moved indoors due to the weather
